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Get Ready for the Old Bank District Art Museum photo by Gary Leonard

It’s Early, But Tom Gilmore and Jerri Perrone Are Planning a Facility Dedicated to Downtown Artists SEE PAGE 6

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AROUND TOWN

Downtown Film Festival Continues This Week

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owntown has historically been a place where movies are shot. This week, it continues its more modern role, as an area where films are screened. The sixth annual Downtown Film Festival L.A., which began on July 9, kicks into full gear this week, and runs through Saturday, July 19. The event features more than 75 feature-length and short indie movies screened in a variety of Downtown venues, chiefly the Downtown Independent (on Main Street between Second and Third streets) and Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live. Highlights this week include the drama West End (described as “Hamlet” on the Jersey Shore), sultry thriller Dark Hearts and closing-night film American Cycle, a road movie that follows two young men traveling across the country on bikes. Tickets for the films are $13. A schedule, tickets and additional information are at dffla.org.

Metro Green-Lights Regional Connector Construction

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veryone knew the Regional Connector was coming, but now it’s really official.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week awarded a “Notice to Proceed” for the project, meaning that construction

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS can begin in full. Metro has been conducting an array of pre-construction tasks, such as relocating utility lines, since last year. The Regional Connector is a 1.9-mile line that will connect the Expo, Blue and Gold lines and create new Downtown stations to simplify cross-county travel and reduce the number of transfers needed. It is being built by a joint venture of contractors Skanska USA and Traylor Bros. The $1.46 billion project is slated for completion in 2020.

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AEG to Bring 500 Employees To Desmond Building

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he giant Anschutz Entertainment Group already has its corporate headquarters at L.A. Live. Now, the company is expanding its footprint in Downtown Los Angeles. On Tuesday, July 8, AEG announced that it is leasing the 1917 Desmond Building at Hope and 11th streets and will move more than 500 employees to that South Park location. The move is expected to happen next April after building owner Lincoln Property Company completes renovations on the Desmond, which is two blocks east of L.A. Live.

The work includes infrastructure upgrades throughout the building, seismic retrofitting and the creation of a new sixth floor, dubbed the “glass pavilion.” The 82,000-square-foot edifice will house the company’s AEG Live and AXS Ticketing divisions. There will also be a ground floor cafe. “With this decision, we are bringing leading global brands in the ticketing and live music business to what is clearly now the region’s most important business district,” AEG Vice Chairman Ted Fikre

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said. “That’s a big move for us and a significant win for Downtown.”

Anti-Gridlock Event In Little Tokyo This Week

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veryone in Downtown hates gridlock, but who really knows how to thoughtfully address the problem? Ed Begley, Jr., that’s who! The Emmy-winning actor and environmentalist will speak about public transit, biking and green living at the Japanese American National Museum on Wednes-

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day, July 16. Hosted by the organization Angelenos Against Gridlock, the event will cover numerous environmental topics. It is free and open to the public. There will be a lunch reception at 11:30 a.m. (actually, it’s finger foods served in the lobby) followed by a 12:15 p.m. lecture from and follow-up Q&A with Begley, who lives in a solar-powered home and drives an electric car. The event is part of the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at JANM, at 100 N. Central Ave. The event is free but advance RSVPs are requested at edbegleyjr.eventbrite.com. Please, don’t drive solo to the event.

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EDITORIALS

July 14, 2014

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Fireworks, Dogs And Public Places

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hen L.A. Live opened in 2007, attention focused not just on the restaurants and concert venues, but also on the outdoor spaces. Some people opined, in particular, that Nokia Plaza would become the Times Square of Los Angeles.

This sounded a bit foolish at the time, and seven years later it’s clear how off base those assertions were. While Anschutz Entertainment Group’s project was a fantastic addition to Downtown Los Angeles, and a game changer in South Park — it has spurred billions more in investment and provided the city a vital convention boost — the mix of concrete, steel and high-definition video screens is not a great public unifier on its own.

Yes, it’s a good spot for celebrations such as hockey championship parades and special events like the recent BET Experience, but it has not become a de facto central gathering point.

Instead, as Downtown grows, other outdoor spaces are emerging, almost organically, as the places where thousands of people will congregate.

Interestingly, there is no Times Square equivalent.

Rather, a number of smaller spots are filling the role.

Consider a pair of recent happenings. On Wednes­­ day, July 9, the plaza at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels was the site of the eighth annual Dog Day Afternoon. Over three hours, about 1,000 dogs, and a slightly larger number of people, came out and mingled, lured by the concept of pets as an icebreaker. As in the past, the cathedral plaza overlooking the 110 Freeway was a perfectly pleasant venue, with a comfortable atmosphere that felt removed from the busy streets. When the cathedral opened in 2002, Los Angeles Archdiocese officials promised that the plaza would be a place for all Angelenos, not just Catholics.

Dog Day Afternoon shows how this can happen. In an ideal world, the cathedral would host many more community events.

Four days before that, a completely different type of event, and one that was even more successful, took place: the Fourth of July celebration at Grand Park.

An estimated 25,000 people showed up, and those who operate the 12-acre park did an admirable job handling the crowd and pulling together elements that appealed to a variety of Angelenos. Two concert stages drew music fans and the splashy fountain was a destination for families. The highlight was the free 16-minute fireworks show.

The spectacular display went off without a hitch from a launch pad atop the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Watching Grand Park develop into a true community gathering point has been a welcome surprise, one that appears to have caught its operators unawares. The past New Year’s Eve celebration drew overflow crowds. In response, officials planned for up to 50,000 attendees on the Fourth of July, and even closed some surrounding streets.

People are coming together in other Downtown spots, too, whether political protests on Broadway or movie screenings in Pershing Square.

Downtown doesn’t now and probably never will have its own Times Square, and that’s OK. We like our variety of emerging public spaces just fine.

The Mayor After 54 Weeks

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t has been 54 weeks since Eric Garcetti was sworn in as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles. While the traditional time to analyze a political figure’s first year in office is on the anniversary of his or her arrival, very little about this mayor is traditional. Garcetti himself marked the occasion with a simple email to constituents and not much else — he did more to draw public attention on his 100th day in office, when he held a press conference and unveiled his first iteration of a data tracking website. Thus, this page opted to wait and see if anything of note evolved from the anniversary. It didn’t.

What should Los Angeles make of this mayor? At this point that is difficult to answer. Unlike his predecessor, Antonio Villaraigosa, or another new high-profile mayor, New York City’s Bill de Blasio, Garcetti is playing things close to the vest, catering as much to government and the process of governing (think his immediate move that department general managers re-apply for their jobs) as he is to Angelenos as a whole.

This approach might well be a good thing. If one year in office has revealed anything, it’s that Garcetti is playing the long game, and though it’s a cliché, he will be better judged after four and eight years. In that line of thinking, Garcetti clearly learned from the missteps of Villaraigosa, who promised the moon and then suffered when he didn’t have the resources, follow-through or the political capital to deliver on ideas such as taking over the school district or planting a million trees.

Garcetti’s mantra has been “Back to Basics,” and his steps in that regard have been frequently focused and occasionally manufactured (such as setting up his desk in Boyle Heights for theoretically “open” office hours). In going this route the mayor showed that he understood the mood of the public and the desire for service over showmanship. Still, now it is time for him to think bigger and take on some of the greater challenges facing Los Angeles.

Garcetti scored some significant victories in his first year, among them persuading the Army Corps of Engineers to approve a $1 billion plan to upgrade 11 miles of the Los Angeles River. The downside is that the city must come up with half the money, but had the Army Corps stuck with its originally recommended $454 million upgrade, then a tremendous opportunity to shape the future would have been squandered. Clearly Garcetti, who backed Barack Obama during his first run for president, has built effective rela-

tionships in Washington, D.C. He was also effective in securing $670 million in federal funds for Downtown’s Regional Connector, which will facilitate area rail travel. That fits with a Garcetti goal of enhancing mass transit throughout the region (an area where, late in his tenure, Villaraigosa finally made some gains).

We’re also beginning to see Garcetti’s vision in his appointees.

Tapping San Francisco’s Seleta Reynolds, an advocate of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, to become general manager of the Department of Transportation, speaks to hope for a more forwardthinking Los Angeles. To be successful, she’ll be have to navigate the city’s politics and car culture.

There are also points on which to question or criticize Garcetti.

He fired Fire Chief Brian Cummings last October, and eight months is way too long to have an interim chief. We’re also disappointed that Garcetti shrugged off the recommendations of the Los Angeles 2020 Commission, in particular the suggestion that the city establish an Office of Transparency and Accountability. Garcetti should have given more weight to the group of business, labor and political leaders.

Garcetti also has yet to shake a question that has dogged him since the mayoral campaign — is he tough enough for the job?

He doesn’t appear weak, but neither is he commanding. He hasn’t mastered the use of the bully pulpit the way that, for example, Richard Riordan did, or Tom Bradley did in his early terms. We may not know how much backbone Garcetti has until he and Brian D’Arcy, the head of the union that represents most DWP workers, come to a head. D’Arcy has refused to reveal how two department training institutes have spent $40 million in taxpayer money. Garcetti has called on him to provide answers. They appear to be on a collision course.

The big question is, what comes next? We believe Garcetti is capable of doing a lot of good for Los Angeles. We expect he’ll come up with more new and innovative ideas, and will be able to utilize technology in ways that advance the city. At the same time, we hope that he will better grasp the opportunities to lead and that he’ll ultimately accept that part of the job is using the press to engage the public, that this connection can be a tool just like Twitter.

Back to Basics was an appropriate approach for Eric Garcetti’s first year. However, as we say, now is the time to think bigger.

July 14, 2014

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Chinese Firm Reveals New Designs, Speedy Timeline at Metropolis

Chinese developer Greenland Group last month began construction on two buildings in its Metropolis megaproject. Work on 54- and 40-story residential towers (right) could begin late this year.

Greenland Group Hopes to Break Ground On Two More South Park Towers This Year

By Eddie Kim hen Shanghai-based Greenland Group purchased the long-stagnant Metropolis site in February, I Fei Chang, the president and CEO of the company’s U.S. subsidiary, said she wanted to move as swiftly as possible to build on the 6.33-acre property.

That was no bluff.

Greenland held a ceremonial groundbreaking just weeks after acquiring the South Park parcels, and last month started construction on the first phase of Metropolis, which will bring a 38-story condominium building and a 19-story hotel.

Now, the company has revealed plans for a second phase that will add two taller residential high-rises. Even more surprising, Greenland and project architect Gensler hope to break ground on that phase by the end of fall, said Gensler Managing Principal Rob Jernigan.

One of the additional towers will be 54 stories tall and have 740 condominiums. The other will be 40 stories tall with 510 for-sale units. Both will rise from an eight-story podium structure that incorporates retail on the ground floor and second floor along Francisco and Eighth streets, along with some apartments and parking.

“We needed a lot of parking, but we wanted to screen it with apartments and retail so that you’re not staring at a parking structure from Francisco Street,” Jernigan said.

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The second phase of Metropolis echoes the look and feel of the first phase, which features buildings skinned in honeycombs of glass and steel. The design plays with light and shadow to give dimension and make the towers sparkle in the sun, Jernigan said.

To give the bigger phase two towers more detail and drama, Gensler incorporated large rectangular facade projections that frame the upper portions of the structures.

The entire project is budgeted at more than $1 billion. The first phase, which will deliver about 300 housing units and a 350-room hotel (Greenland recently worked out a deal with the city that will allow it to keep $39 million in room and other tax revenue over 25 years), is scheduled to be complete in 2016.

The second phase will open in about five years, according to Jernigan.

The timeline is also noteworthy because of the project’s history. Metropolis was originally broached in 1987 as primarily a high-rise office park. Various economic recessions and shifts in the makeup of Downtown spurred changes in design, direction and ownership, and several years ago real estate firm IDS was working on a proposal built around a residential and retail complex. Despite past failures in beginning construction, the fact that the Metropolis site had secured entitlements allowed Greenland

Downtown News 5

rendering courtesy Gensler

to move forward quickly.

As with the first phase, the second-phase buildings will be connected by green space (more than 2.5 acres throughout the site) and amenities including a pool and barbecue area. Much of the green space will sit atop the eight-story podium, offering views toward the west and the Downtown skyline to the east. Greenland also plans to build 24-foot-wide sidewalks along Francisco Street to promote pedestrian activity in and around the retail portion of the project.

“Envisioning Metropolis as a true experiential hub for both residents and visitors, energized by upscale retail, restaurants and other destinations, our ultimate goal is to create a new gateway to Downtown L.A.,” Chang said in a prepared statement to Los Angeles Downtown News.

News of the second phase comes as a number of plans have been announced for South Park.

Beijing-based Oceanwide Real Estate Group is purchasing a 4.6-acre site east of Staples Cen-

ter from the Moinian Group. Plans for that site, dubbed Fig Central, include a five-star hotel, apartments and retail space.

Another coveted parcel, at the northwest corner of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard, was purchased by Ben Neman in May for an estimated $25 million. Neman has said he wants to build a high-rise with luxury hotel and residential components. The land currently holds a car wash, two restaurants and a ticket sales shop.

Heavyweight developer Mack Urban, meanwhile, scooped up six acres of land near 12th and Olive streets last October and has revealed plans for two seven-story condominium buildings, with additional hotel and residential towers coming later. At nearby Grand Avenue and 11th Street, developer Trumark Urban has revived plans for a 24-story condo building, known as the Glass Tower, that stalled during the recession. eddie@downtownnews.com

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July 14, 2014

Gilmore, Perrone Plan Old Bank District Art Museum Project, Now in the Very Early Stage, Would Feature Work by Downtown Artists

By Donna Evans ifteen years ago, Tom Gilmore shook up Downtown Los Angeles when he and his business partner Jerri Perrone acquired three derelict buildings at Fourth and Main streets, not far from Skid Row. They launched a housing effort labeled the Old Bank District, a tidal wave of residential investment followed, and the Central City hasn’t been the same since.

Now, the pair has another idea to shake up Downtown: They want to open a contemporary art museum, complete with a rooftop sculpture garden, in the heart of the Historic Core.

Gilmore calls the project “the non-museum museum,” in part because it will have space across multiple buildings and floors, with the art and the architecture playing off each other.

The items on display will also be unconventional: While other museums may include contemporary work from Central City denizens, the Old Bank District Museum (a working title) will concentrate on Downtown artists. Gilmore and Perrone have tapped architect Tom Wiscombe to design the development.

Gilmore stressed that the project is in the early stage. He also noted that the museum is one aspect of a broader vision that he and Perrone have for the next stage of development in the area, which, off the cuff, he termed “Old Bank District 2.0.”

The current plan calls for building out some 50,000 square feet of vacant space in the basement of the Hellman and Farmers and Merchants Bank buildings at Fourth and Main streets, which Gilmore owns. He imagines tying that to galleries on the mezzanine of the Farmers and Merchants building, and having elevator access to a sculpture garden atop the roof of the Old Bank Garage.

Gilmore put the early price tag at $25 million-$35 million. He said the Old Bank District team would provide start-up money and then fundraise. Ultimately a nonprofit would be created to operate it and raise additional funds.

“This is going to be one wacky museum,” Gilmore said during a recent interview. “It will be a repository for prominent Downtown artists of the last 40 years. We want to connect the galleries visually, architecturally and philosophically, and with the pre-existing galleries, this

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could be everything that a contemporary art museum should be.”

Although the Historic Core is full of galleries, Gilmore said the project would function as a true museum, and that no works would be sold. While participating artists would be determined at a later date, he already has a couple plans in mind: He said he anticipates showing the work of artists Robert Reynolds, whose Robert Reynolds Gallery is on the ground floor of the Continental Building, and Tod Lychkoff, whose eponymous gallery is in the middle of the block on Fourth between Spring and Main streets. Passersby can currently see Reynolds working though the large windows at Fourth and Main, so stitching the spaces together makes sense, Gilmore said.

Although Gilmore is known for creating housing, he has a creative track record. He trained as an architect and lived in New York before coming to Downtown Los Angeles in the mid-1990s. When the Downtown Art Walk encountered financial troubles and was at the risk of closing, Gilmore was one of the individuals who stepped up and contributed money to keep the monthly gathering afloat. Additionally, the Southern California Institute of Architecture established the Gilmore City Chair in 2013 after he made a $1 million gift to the Arts District institution.

The idea was sparked, Gilmore said, after he and Perrone (who is married to Pete’s Café namesake Peter McLaughlin) traveled recently to Russia. They visited the Erarta Museum and Galleries of Contemporary Art in St. Petersburg, and loved seeing a rehabilitated building housing so many works of art. Gilmore said that convinced them that a new museum could open in an old structure.

Gilmore said he believes that the Central City is ready to shift into the next phase of its development. He said that over the years, he and Perrone have learned the value of the arts and that the process of making art is an essential component of a creative, forward-thinking neighborhood.

Surging Scene Gilmore and Perrone’s move comes as the Downtown arts scene is surging. MOCA has a new artistic director in Philippe Vergne and ap-

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Tom Gilmore and Jerri Perrone, who launched the Old Bank District 15 years ago, are working on a plan to create a 50,000-square-foot contemporary art museum in the Old Bank District. It would include a rooftop sculpture garden.

photo by Gary Leonard

pears to have recovered its financial footing.

Next year, Eli Broad will open his Grand Avenue contemporary art museum The Broad, which will showcase the 2,000 pieces that he and his wife Edythe own through their two foundations (admission will be free). The Downtown Art Walk continues to draw large crowds and former MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel recently announced that he will partner in Hauser, Wirth & Schimmel, a 100,000-square-foot space at 901 E. Third St. that will offer contemporary and modern art exhibitions and a variety of programs.

Gilmore intends for his project to stand out by focusing on artists who live and work in the Central City.

“I think Downtown artists constitute a unique subset of individuals in an emerging urban environment, unique to L.A, and their work reflects it. I hope that we can adequately represent and nurture that culture in the coming years,” he said.

Gilmore said demolition is slated to begin in early 2015 with construction commencing later that year. Already, some work has begun:

In February a two-and-a-half ton steel sculpture, “Earthwave,” was moved from the Arts District to the roof of the Old Bank Garage at 425 S. Main St. The 18-foot by 18-foot work by Lebbeus Woods will be part of the sculpture garden, Gilmore said, with some sculptures hanging over the side of the building. Gilmore also envisions a rooftop cafe.

Word of Gilmore’s plan excited Art Walk Executive Director Qathryn Brehm. She also pointed to Schimmel’s project, and said this is the perfect time for Gilmore’s addition to the art scene.

“Artists used to be everywhere,” she said.

“Any of these old buildings, all through Downtown, had artists creating and exhibiting their work. This is very exciting.”

Brehm also likes the site, saying, “Fourth and Main is the perfect central location to serve the whole of the Downtown arts area. It will not belong to one district but will represent Downtown as a whole.”

Gilmore expects another set of renderings to take six months. He hopes the museum will open within the next five years. donna@downtownnews.com

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Reynolds Raps

me is that there’s an enthusiasm to try new things, which is a happy surprise because you don’t always see that in a bureaucracy. The primary weakness is the funding picture. There’s a new normal for city transportation budgets in a post-recession economy, and we need to examine how we’ll meet the transportation needs of the 21st century. That begins with how we help ourselves to lock in funding, particularly federal funds, which are slowing to a trickle.

Former San Francisco Transportation Official and New LADOT Head Discusses The Challenges and Possibilities of the Job

By Eddie Kim eleta Reynolds has never lived in Los Angeles. Still, on Aug. 11, she’ll start a job that impacts each of the city’s 4 million residents: general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Reynolds, 38, has spent the last three years leading teams in the Livable Streets division of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Mayor Eric Garcetti picked her to replace interim General Manager Jon Kirk Murki at the top of the 1,800-employee LADOT, and the City Council confirmed her on July 1.

Los Angeles Downtown News spoke with Reynolds about the differences in traffic in L.A. and the Bay Area, and got her take on some key Central City projects and goals.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: How well do you know Los Angeles and the Downtown area?

Seleta Reynolds: I’ve visited over the years and I have been asking a lot of questions since this process of becoming general manager of LADOT started in the spring. I’ve often stayed in Downtown because I want to experience the city without a car. Downtown is clearly growing different neighborhood centers, and that’s a fascinating process to watch. That’s something that San Francisco also experienced over the last five to 10 years.

There’s also a movement to reclaim streets as public spaces and it’s been amazing to see that mentality in Downtown.

Q: How would you describe the transportation differences between San Francisco and L.A.?

A: The biggest one, literally, is the scale. L.A. is just a much bigger canvas and has so many wider streets. San Francisco has a lot of narrow streets and hills, which makes compromising for

photo courtesy SFMTA

Seleta Reynolds will become general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation next month. She was previously at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, where she led three teams in the Livable Streets division.

transit and transportation decisions tricky. There’s more open space in L.A. to work with, but that also makes it more complex to figure out where to begin.

How transportation is managed is very different, too. Everything in San Francisco is handled through the Municipal Transportation Agency and it reports to its own board that is not elected. In L.A. you see different agencies hold different parts of the transportation puzzle, and you’re partnering with an elected body to decipher the mayor’s budget.

Q: What are your initial impressions of LADOT? A: It’s full of people who have been working in L.A. for a very long time and have strong institutional knowledge of what has worked and what could work in the future. But what’s struck

Q: You have a lot of experience with “complete streets” projects, and the MyFigueroa plan is the most ambitious project of that kind in L.A. What do you think of it?

A: I know the project had controversy and delays over its impact on traffic, but what was encouraging about the debate was that stakeholders came together and reached a compromise despite some very strong fears at the start. They looked at the facts and came to a data-driven solution. The project appears to be a very modern design with tremendous promise in terms of being a lesson on how to create more complete streets in the future. It’s important for the city to put a project out and tinker and tweak it over time to learn from it.

Q: There’s an effort on Broadway to calm traffic, make the street more inviting for pedestrians and streamline transit. Why are these projects valuable?

A: Most people don’t only ride bikes, or only take buses, or only drive. Most folks use a combination of those things, and that’s why a balanced approach is good for future infrastructure. Everybody wants a well-organized street where people’s movements are predictable. Everyone also wants beautiful streets that contribute to the quality of life in the area. It’s about making streets safer but also making them reach their full potential.

Q: You’ve talked about taking a data-driven approach to transportation. How might that apply here?

A: I want to replicate work done in New York City and San Francisco to look at data of how streetscape projects connect with the economic performance of the street. What we’ve seen in those Continued on page 20

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July 14, 2014

Restaurant Buzz Chef/owner James Ta is ditching The Sandwich Smith and expanding the menu at his formerly dinner-only Fickle in Little Tokyo.

One new lunch item is the fried fish cake with cherry tomatoes.

Pop-Up Brunch, DineLA Returns and Other Food Happenings

By Eddie Kim oving Target: Chef Felix Barron has been stuffing diners with top-notch brunch dishes at his Ktchn DTLA pop-up at The Gorbals, but it’s apparently time for a change in venue. The pop-up moved on July 12 to Ebanos Crossing at Second and Hill streets, and will operate on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Barron offers updated brunch classics with a gourmet touch and has crafted a new menu for the Ebanos move.

Expect dishes such as flan french toast, homemade corned beef hash and street-corn mac and cheese. Barron will remain at Ebanos indefinitely, or as he jokes, “Until they kick us out.”

At 200 S. Hill St. or ktchnla.com.

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Arts District Mystery: Bill Chait has a knack for developing successful eateries — think Bestia in the Arts District or Rivera in South Park.

Now comes word that Chait is in escrow to buy a nearly 8,000-square-foot space in the Arts District at 515 Molino St. Chait and a group of partners are working on a restaurant set to open in 2015, according to project representative Shawna Dawson. Still, what is coming is a mystery. Despite chef Jason Neroni’s coincidentally timed departure from Chait’s Superba Snack Bar in Venice, Dawson said he is not involved in the project. Neither is Bestia chef Ori Menashe, who has discussed opening a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern concept with Chait in Downtown. Stay tuned.

Coming to 515 Molino St.

Beat the Heat: Residents and visitors in the Arts District now have another way to cool down, as a temporary Sweet Rose Creamery has opened inside the boutique studio/retailer Woo at 209 S. Garey St. The ice cream shop is open every Saturday and Sunday from 3-9 p.m. this month. Santa Monica-based Sweet Rose Creamery specializes in small-batch ice creams made from scratch using seasonal ingredients.

Recent flavors at the pop-up have included salted caramel, fresh mint with homemade chocolate chips and nectarine sorbet. Outdoor and patio seating is available. Woo owners Staci Woo and Mike Badt hope to extend the pop-up at least through September.

At 209 S. Garey St., (213) 687-4800 or ilovewoo.com.

Dining Deals: DineLA Restaurant Week, which is really two weeks, is back, running July 14-27. For the uninitiated, DineLA eateries offer three-course prix-fixe menus (usually dinner, but sometimes also lunch, depending on the restaurant) for $25, $35 or $45. Whatever the price, it’s usually a steal compared to what you would normally pay. Downtown’s food scene is well represented, with 39 participating restaurants, including Faith & Flower, Rivera, Badmaash, Blue Cow and Water Grill.

The entire list of restaurants and their menus is at discoverlosangeles.com/dinela.

Fickle Tastes: The Sandwich Smith/Fickle in Little Tokyo, which opened in February 2013,

photo courtesy Fickle

seemingly offered diners the best of both worlds: casual sandwiches by day, elevated small plates and more elaborate entrees by night. Now, chef/owner James Ta has cut the sandwich business and introduced a Fickle lunch menu. It features a variety of salads and small plates, such as fried fish cakes with malt vinegar aioli. Bigger entrees include a Kurobuta pork belly and a Texas bison burger. For those who’ll miss the Sandwich Smith, the original fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw remains.

At 362 E. First St., (213) 628-1888 or ficklela.com.

Pan-Asian Trip: There’s yet another restaurant on Seventh Street. Gaji, an Asian-inspired eatery at 523 W. Seventh St., soft-opened in June and began serving dinner this month, according to owner Linda Shin. The menu comes from chef Minh Phan (Beachwood Cafe, the pop-up Mignardises) and features items such as kimchi-stuffed dates, whole roasted sea bass stuffed with alliums and rice ravioli with beef cheeks in a pho broth. Gaji is currently open for lunch on Mondays but serves from 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednes-

days and 11 a.m.-midnight Thursday-Saturday.

Trivia time: “Gaji” means “branch” in Korean.

At 523 W. Seventh St., (213) 243-0780 or gajidtla.com.

A Must-y New Menu: Chef Drew Coleman of Old Bank District wine bar The Must has unveiled a summer menu of seasonal fare to accompany your glass (or several glasses) of Riesling. Crowd favorites such as the smashed tater tots and Fluffernutter sandwich remain, and Coleman has added dishes including green bucatini with a kale-pistachio pesto and sea beans and a whole roasted head of cauliflower with a spiced yogurt crust and chimichurri sauce.

Then there’s the stoned biscuit, a fluffy biscuit topped with poached stonefruit and slathered with crème fraiche and the fruity poaching syrup. As always, Coleman’s menu offers vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.

At 117 Winston St., (213) 628-2000 or themust.com.

Got any juicy food news? If so, contact Restaurant Buzz at eddie@downtownnews.com.

City Living THIS WEEK CHECK OUT

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Ringling Bros. at Staples Center.

We Will Rock You featuring songs by Queen at the Ahmanson Theatre.

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July 14, 2014

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DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM photo by Donna Evans

Condo Sales Show Heated Interest in Owning Downtown Arts District’s Barker Block Nearly Sells Out Its 68 Units

By Donna Evans hen sales of the condominiums at the Barker Block began early this year, real estate watchers were paying close attention. The 68 units in the Arts District were the first new for-sale residences in Downtown to hit the market in more than a year.

The questions were simple: Would people actually buy a home in post-recession Downtown? If so, how much were they willing to spend?

Now, the answers are pretty clear: The appetite to buy is voracious, and although prices may not have eclipsed the $600 per square foot that they reached before the economy tanked in 2008, they have gotten pretty close.

Sixty-six of the 68 units in the Arts District complex have sold.

With many buyers paying more than the asking price, and with a few bidding wars, real estate experts expect the interest in owning in the Central City to remain high.

“You no longer have to sell Downtown as a terrific place to live,” said Alan Mark, president and founding partner of the Mark Company, a real estate, marketing and sales firm based in San Francisco that tracks condominium sales.

The Barker Block sales were spurred not just by the scarcity of Downtown condos, Mark said, but also by the renaissance of the area, with stores, restaurants and other businesses opening. He also pointed to the walkability of the community and the access to public transportation.

The first phase of the Barker Block, developed by the Kor

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After only six months, the second phase of the Barker Block is almost entirely sold out. Officials with developer CityView expect the average sales price to be about $575 per square foot.

Group with 242 condos, opened in 2006. Then the recession hit, scuttling plans for the next phase.

It took until spring 2013 for the project to move forward again.

That’s when CityView, a development firm run by former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros, teamed with investment firm Blackstone on the second phase. The $25 million project (with marketing help from the Kor Group) included units ranging from approximately 675-2,000 square feet.

The highest asking price in the bunch was a two-story residence listed at $739,000. Multiple offers pushed the sale price north of $1 million, said Con Howe, managing director of CityView.

The average price has shifted over the course of the sales, said Howe, and at one point reached $600 per square foot. Howe believes that by the time the final two units are sold, the average will level out to $575 per square foot.

“As we got closer and closer to opening, the more and more optimistic we got. This has exceeded our optimism,” he said.

The two remaining condos are both open-space units with one bathroom. A 1,070-square-foot residence on the third floor, which served as a model unit, is listed at $614,000. A 907-squarefoot condo on the second floor is priced at $585,000.

Cheaper Than Silver Lake To Richard Green, the director of USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate, Downtown in 2014 is like the Westside of 2007: The area is desirable partly because of a lack of affordable housing in surrounding neighborhoods. Plus, he added, there are enough amenities that allow people to live in Downtown without feeling like they are giving something up.

Another Downtown strength, he said, is that it’s cheaper than nearby neighborhoods that are even more desirable. In Silver Lake, he noted, houses sell for $600-$700 per square foot. In that regard, $575 looks like a good deal, he said.

The second phase of the Barker Block measures 72,451 square feet. The condos are in the red brick Barker Brothers furniture factory and warehouse, which dates to the early 1900s. The developers utilized original brick and timber beams in the conversion.

The residents will have access to the connected Barker building (phase one) which includes a fitness room and a rooftop pool.

The project is just around the corner from Urth Caffe and joins a neighborhood that is surging. Other recent additions include Zinc Café, Blacktop Coffee, eyewear retailer Warby Parker and the restaurant Fifty Seven.

Mark said he expects the appetite for Downtown condos to remain high. He noted that in addition to the limited stock and high prices in Silver Lake, sales figures are also rocketing up in neighborhoods such as Echo Park, Los Feliz and Highland Park.

The Barker Block isn’t the only Downtown condo complex to draw such high interest. In the spring, Anschutz Entertainment Group announced that all 224 of the Ritz-Carlton Residences had been sold. Units there ranged from $1 million to $10 million.

While the desire to own a Downtown home is clearly high, more stock is finally in the pipeline. Greenland Group last month broke ground on a 38-story condominium building north of L.A. Live. At 12th and Olive streets, Mack Urban is embarking on plans for two seven-story for-sale buildings. donna@downtownnews.com

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Musical Featuring the Songs of Queen Comes to the Ahmanson Theatre

By Donna Evans rica Peck eagerly recalls the first time she heard a Queen song: It wasn’t an older sibling playing the landmark News of the World album on the family stereo, or chancing across one of the band’s hits such as “We Will Rock You” or “Killer Queen” coming out of a car radio.

Rather, her first Queen encounter was via two quirky, long-haired rock music enthusiasts engaged in a head-banging session to “Bohemian Rhapsody” inside a 1976 AMC Pacer. Yes, Peck learned of the band led by Freddie Mercury and Brian May from Wayne and Garth, the characters played by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in Wayne’s World.

Still, the impact was immediate.

“They’re just as cool as their music sounds,” the 27-year-old actress effused about the band.

Now Peck has a whole new view of Queen.

She plays Oz, an intergalactic freedom fightnNews Facebook.com/L.A.Downtow er, in We Will Rock You. The rock musical from Queen and Ben Elton that opened in London in 2002 is on tour and lands at the AhmanLike Downtown News on Facebook son Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles on & Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!

Wednesday, July 16 (there’s a preview on Tuesday). The production runs through Aug. 24.

The cast includes Erica Set on the futuristic iPlanet, We Will Rock You Peck and Jared Zirilli as follows two young misfit rebels, Galileo and intergalactic freedom Scaramouche (yes, they’re name-dropped in fighters who help the “Bohemian Rhapsody”), who are detercharacters Galileo and mined to find life outside of their world, Scaramouche. where all music is manufactured and all

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photos by Greg Kolnik

The musical We Will Rock You opens this week at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown. The show features 24 Queen songs, including the hits “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions” and “Another One Bites the Dust.”

been listening to since he was a child, as his fainstruments are banned. They join forces with a ther frequently played the band’s 1981 Greatest colorful group of glam rock rebels who are running from the Killer Queen’s police. Together they Hits album.

“It is truly thrilling to get to play this music,” Patsearch for the one remaining instrument which ten said. “It never gets tiring, as all the songs are will help free them. Peck plays one of the rebels. timeless. If you are the biggest Queen fan, you’re The plot is unabashedly silly, yet Peck thinks going to love this show, and if you’ve managed that familiarity trumps all. The 160-minute to get this far in life and not have heard their mushow includes 24 songs, among them “We Will sic, you’re going to love this show.”

Rock You,” “We Are the Champions,” “Another Peck has been on the road with We Will Rock One Bites the Dust” and “Somebody to Love.”

You since the tour began in Baltimore last Sep“You know way more Queen than you think tember. Since then, the 27-member cast has you do,” Peck laughed. performed across the country, including ChicaQueen formed in London in 1970 and made go, Detroit, Philadelphia, Miami and, last week, a name for itself with its theatrical approach, spearheaded by Mercury. While the band’s early in Seattle.

Long attracted to glam rock, and always havalbums were considered progressive rock, hard rock and heavy metal, the sound shifted toward ing shown a “flair for the dramatic,” Peck, a clasmore conventional and radio-friendly fare, such sically trained singer, said she found her artistic calling in musical theater. Getting to glam up as “Radio Ga Ga” (rumored to be the impetus her face, hair and wardrobe for more than two for Lady Gaga’s moniker). Mercury died in 1991 of Queen songs was the perfect antidote from complications from AIDS. Now Playing/Starts July 11hours to missing home, the Toronto resident said.

Queen’s May and Roger Taylor put togethPeck said she is looking forward to coming er the original musical 12 years ago with Elto Los Angeles. Knowing it’s the last stop on the ton, who wrote British TV’s “Mr. Bean.” This tour, she said, means she can relax a little. Given tour is slightly adapted from a show that just the lengthy run, she said, she’ll be able to unwrapped in London after 12 years, and the writers have updated the script to keep it fresh, pack her suitcase, and may even rent a car.

Probably not a 1976 Pacer, though. said Music Director Nate Patten.

We Will Rock You runs through Aug. 24 at the Patten, who lives in New York, plays piano in Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628the show and conducts the eight-member on2772 or centertheatregroup.org. stage band. His keyboard highlights include, donna@downtownnews.com of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which he has

Now Playing/Starts July 18

July 14, 2014

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A Downtown Art Studio’s 31 Flavors At Arts District Space PØST, July Means a Different Exhibit Every Day

By Eddie Kim ate in the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8, the small PØST art exhibition space was buzzing. Artist John Pearson crouched at the base of a Prussian-blue swath of fabric hanging on the wall, gently coaxing out wrinkles with a small steam iron. Another artist, Aaron Brewer, paced nearby, examining a jumble of paintlaced palm fronds, cans, bottles and a mélange of other small objects laying on the ground.

They were making final preparations for an exhibition, All Things Give Way. Artist and curator Jay Erker stood nearby, watching the work while sipping from a sweating can of Heineken.

Over the next few hours, friends, fellow artists and curious members of the public would trickle into the intimate Arts District space. Unlike most exhibitions, however, that would be the end of it. All Things Give Way needed to broken down by noon on Wednesday, when a new one-day show would go up.

The quick set-up and disassembling is the crux of PØST founder and director Habib Kheradyar Zamani’s Kamikaze series. During the 31 days of July, 31 different curators take over the space on Seventh Place.

Each curator has more or less free reign to do what they want with 24 hours. Some mount solo shows, while others rope in as many collaborators as possible. Some exhibitions are on view for a couple of hours, while others performances last around the clock.

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For Zamani, the series is more than a collection of shows. He called it a “month-long endurance piece” in which he works intensely to collaborate with the curators and carefully document each exhibit.

“I see it as a focus on the practice of art-making, and celebrating that process, rather than just the end result,” Zamani said.

Zamani’s soft, lilting voice and gentle eyes belie his subversive streak and fierce dedication to artistic integrity. He founded POST in 1995 in Downtown, and over the next decade garnered acclaim for both his own work and exhibitions of art from his peers. He closed the space in 2005 to focus on his own art, but returned in 2009 with a tweaked name, PØST, and a reinvigorated approach.

That year he also launched Kamikaze.

Though the title sparks images of suicidal Japanese airplane pilots in World War II, the word actually translates to “divine wind.” Zamani said he chose it because of its potency and connection to themes of abandonment and sacrifice.

“Many of my works have an endurance aspect to it, and I have a tendency to go extreme,” Zamani said. “There would’ve been no way to call something ‘kamikaze’ without it being an extreme gesture. This month-long program puts a lot of pressure on artists to set up and break down a show in a short amount of time.”

For the artists, the program offers a chance to do something out of the box without added

photo by Gary Leonard

The month-long Kamikaze series at PØST is the brainchild of Habib Kheradyar Zamani. Each of the 31 artists in the series has 24 hours to set up, show and take down an exhibition.

stress from competition or economic pressures.

Nobody pays to display their work, and while some sales have occurred, it’s not really the point.

“There’s an atmosphere to Kamikaze shows that I don’t experience anywhere else. There’s a sense of community that’s so strong,” Erker said.

“We don’t often take the time to celebrate our own labor and each others’ labor, so this is exciting.”

That view is shared by Annie Wharton, whose exhibition My Blood Whispers to Me takes place on Monday, July 14. The show investigates the human form through paintings, sculpture, dance, photography and even artisa-

nal furniture. It features 17 artists.

Wharton met Zamani soon after arriving in Los Angeles in 2005, and she curated a video exhibition at PØST in 2010. She said Kamikaze provides a much-needed break from her day-to-day work.

“I’ve been working intensely as an art consultant for a lot of corporate projects and this was something I could do that was more democratic and didn’t have that influence from business,” Wharton said. “It’s about continuing my personal research and really just having a party.”

Kamikaze runs through July 31 at PØST, 1904 E. Seventh Pl. or postlosangeles.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

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July 14, 2014

Raise the Woof!

Photos by Gary Leonard The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels went to the dogs last week. Fortunately, some of their humans showed up too. The occasion was the eighth annual Dog Day Afternoon, a community-building event organized by the Cathedral and the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. The happening on Wednesday, July 9, brought out about 1,000 pets and 1,200 members of the two-legged set. The event included the handing out of the Best Buddy Award to an LAPD K-9 unit.

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FREE SUMMER CONCERTS 2014 DTLA

Friday, July 18 @ Noon and 8:00 PM CHOP AND QUENCH Saturday, July 19 @ 8:00 PM QUETZAL 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION feat. members of La Santa Cecilia, Maya Jupiter, and Marisa Ronstadt and the Know-It-Alls OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER TAKES PLACE THIS EVENING. FREE PUBLIC SEATING WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE UPPER PLAZA.

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CALENDAR LISTINGS

By Dan Johnson calendar@downtownnews.com

A Lot of Music and a Lot of Wrestling Are in Downtown This Week

EVENTS

photo © Jacob Blickenstaff 2014

SPONSORED LISTINGS Kitty Bungalow 1050 S. Hill St. or kittybungalow.org A CATbaret! returns Downtown for its fourth year, featuring the hidden talents of your favorite celebrities, hosted by funnyman Fred Willard. Whether you’re a cat lover or a theater lover, come to the Belasco Theater at 7 p.m on Saturday, Aug. 9, for an unforgettable night of sensational singers and dazzling dancers at the trendiest animal event of the year! A CATbaret! is presented by World’s Best Cat Litter.

Friday Night Flicks by Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare Catch a free screening of The Whole Nine Yards at Pershing Square on Friday, July 18. Mobster Jimmy “The Tulip” Teduski (Bruce Willis) moves in next door to a mild mannered dentist (Matthew Perry) whose wife, whom he can’t afford to divorce, convinces him to relay Teduski’s whereabouts to the Chicago mob boss who’d like him to sleep with the fishes. The movie will begin at 8 p.m., and well-behaved dogs are allowed. Parking can be found in the Pershing Square garage.

L.A.’s Largest Mixer XVI 700 W. 32nd St., (323) 230-5656 or lamixer.com Join Los Angeles area chambers and business organizations from 5-9 p.m. on July 17 at the Shrine Auditorium Expo Center for L.A.’s largest and longest-running business-to-business networking event. The 16th annual L.A.’s Largest Mixer is a great opportunity to reach small to large companies, meet new clients and learn how the different chambers of commerce and business organizations can make your business grow. Admission is $20.

1

Back in 1969, Afrobeat luminary Fela Kuti had a residency at the Citidel de Haiti in Hollywood. The resulting album, The ’69 Los Angeles Sessions, has had such a lasting impact on contemporary music that Downtown’s Grand Performances has invited Chop and Quench (shown here) to perform the LP in its entirety on Friday, July 18, at noon and 8 p.m. at the Cal Plaza Watercourt. Those who dig fusion-infused music can return Saturday at 8 p.m. to celebrate the 20th anniversary of East L.A.’s Grammy-winning Mexican folk rock quintet Quetzal. As always with events of this scope and popularity, arrive early to ensure maximum viewing pleasure. At 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances.org.

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On Thursday, July 17, as klieg lights illuminate the sky around the Mayan Theatre, a line-up of classic roadsters will roll up and deliver a dedicated crew of masked Mexican wrestlers. Yes, it’s the return of Lucha VaVoom, which means both theatrical fighting and sultry burlesque. Performers include El Bombero, the gloriously named El Presidente, the Poubelle Twins, the “Pina Colada Song” loving Joey Ryan and Lucy Fur. The lights will dim, a smart aleck will take the mic and these intrepid, body-slamming and body-shimmying performers will do what they do best. At 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or luchavavoom.com.

photo © Daniel G.Lam Photography

WEDNESDay, JuLy 16 Michelle Obama at Jane Ortner Education Award Luncheon Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

12 p.m.: First Lady Michelle Obama will speak at an inaugural event honoring educators. Janelle Monae is slated to perform.

ThuRSDay, JuLy 17 Francisco Goldman at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Writer Francisco Goldman discusses his native Mexico City and the lingering threat of narco violence that hangs like a cloud over the metropolis.

LA’s Largest Mixer XVI Shrine Auditorium, 665 W. Jefferson Blvd., (213) 748-5116 or shrineauditorium.com.

5 p.m.: A gathering billed “The Ultimate Business Networking Event” bring together a huge collection of business people all looking to do deals.

Lucha VaVoom Mayan Theatre, 1038 S. Hill St., or luchavavoom.com.

7:30 p.m.: Mexican wrestling, burlesque dancing, witty repartee and copious tequila mark the return of this Downtown standard.

Summer Soiree Shopping Event at the DWC Downtown Women’s Center, 325 S. Los Angeles St. or madebydwc.org.

6-9 p.m.: The Made by DWC resale store hosts an evening of shopping that also benefits the fine work the boutique does to integrate the community’s women into fashion.

4 photo by Mélanie Morand

FRIDay, JuLy 18 Friday Night Sing-Alongs: Songs of ’64 Disney Hall, W.M. Keck Amphitheatre, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7211 or musiccenter.org.

6:30 p.m.: For those queued up peacefully, tonight’s free program of sing-along tunes from 1964 promises some wonderful potential. “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas and even “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen are potentially on the docket.

July 14, 2014

So sorry narcissistic New Yorkers, but Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere. On Thursday, July 17, at 7:15 p.m., Mexican author Francisco Goldman will hash out the philosophical ontology of the former Tenochtitlan as he discusses his latest book, Say Her Name, The Interior Circuit.

Goldman is dropping by the Central Library as part of the Aloud series. His book is a reasoned lament of his wife’s passing and a coming to terms with the closing distance between the vast Mexican capital and the horrors of narco terror beyond. As an added bonus, Goldman will be chatting it up with great and wise writer Ruben Martinez. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7550 or lfla.org.

3

Whether you know Harvey Milk from Sean Penn’s portrayal in the eponymous 2008 film or you remember him from his 1970s run as the unofficial Mayor of Castro Street in San Francisco, the man’s legacy lives on in Downtown this weekend. That’s because the Gay Men’s Chorus is taking over the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, July 19, at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. for performances of I Am Harvey Milk. More than 500 men will bring their voices together and bring to life what the GMC dubs “the story of an American icon” in a 60-minute oratorio.

At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

photo © Krista Kennell/Corbis

14 Downtown News

FiVe

Perhaps you’ve been desensitized by years of underwhelming hiphop reunions and the recent repetitive radio ads touting a spectacular comeback by the Wu-Tang Clan (which is obviously sub-par given the lack of one ODB). Well folks, rest assured, the Masters of Ceremony Hip Hop Reunion on Friday, July 18, at Nokia Theatre is the real deal. Rather than dress it up nice, we’ll shoot straight. Here’s the lineup: DMX, EPMD, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Special Ed, Biz Markie and Naughty By Nature. Are you down with OPP? At (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

July 14, 2014

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Downtown News 15

Eric Overmeyer at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:30 p.m.: Television producer and writer Eric Overmeyer drops by the library to discuss his methods and experiences writing for the small screen.

The Big Bang Theory Every so often a taiko drumming event unfolds in Little Tokyo.

However, few have the scope, or the sonic magnitude, of Taiko Nation. On Saturday-Sunday, July 19-20, three big taiko concerts will take place, each with a variety of prominent groups, at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre. Expect the propulsive, percussive sounds to emanate from individuals and groups including Kaoru Watanabe, the Australian act TaikOz, Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, from San Francisco, and Los Angeles’ own TaikoProject (shown here).

Performances are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 for orchestra seats and $30 in the balcony. With drums this big and loud, though, you’ll probably be able to hear the groups all across Little Tokyo.

At 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 6282725 or jaccc.org.

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Grand Performances 350 S. Grand Ave., (213) 687-2159 or grandperformances. org.

July 18, 12 and 8 p.m.: Chop and Quench will be playing Fela Kuti’s entire ’69 Los Angeles Sessions.

July 19, 8 p.m.: Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Quetzal.

Honeycut 819 S. Flower St., (213) 688-0888 or honeycutla.com.

Continued on next page

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July 20, 10 p.m.: Another Sunday means another evening of Honky Tonk with RT N the 44s.

Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com.

July 18: Indecent Noise.

July 19: Claude Vonstroke.

Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum. org.

July 14, 8 p.m.: Laurence Juber of Wings fame shows off his



July 15, 10 p.m.: Tonight’s dual performance by Bunny West and Boom Boom Boom promises to be air-conditioned.

July 16, 10 p.m.: The Vibrometers return to fill the house with funk pleasures.

July 17, 10 p.m.: Classy entertainment from Little Dove and Boys School.

July 18, 9 p.m.: The Downtown Train will be making a stop on Boyd Street.

July 19, 10 p.m.: Electric Strawberry plays second fiddle to Charlie Chan and the SOBs.



Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

July 15: Chris Wabich Group.

July 16: Jonah Levine Group.

July 17: Josh Nelson and Sara Gazarek.

July 18-19: Jason Lindner.

July 20: Jacob Szekely Trio.

Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

July 14, 8 p.m.: Hi Ho Silver Oh are musical residents with topical references to both the Lone Ranger and the Seven Dwarves.

July 15, 8 p.m.: Music by committee with the cultish Polyphonic Spree. Try not to drink the Kool-Aid. July 16, 9 p.m.: Notes of art rock, post rock and shoegaze with Philadelphia’s paradoxically named A Sunny Day in Glasgow.

July 17, 9 p.m.: If MGMT began taking daily injections of estrogen, they would sound like Figs Vision in approximately three months. Just in time for Halloween.

July 18, 8 p.m.: Manichean musical pleasures with The Black and The White.

July 19, 9 p.m.: Weekly San Francisco-based DJ funk party Afrolicious ventures south.

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

July 17, 8:30 p.m.: An Evening with Benise features former street-busking flamenco guitarist Roni Benise. Don’t ask about his childhood in Nebraska, as he’s living in the present.

Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com.

July 14, 9 p.m.: Brian Walker and Monster Mondays, jazz fusion of grotesque proportions.

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

16 Downtown News Continued from previous page July 14: TGIM. July 15: Actual Disco.

July 17: DJ Mathieu Schreyer.

July 18: Jack of All Tracks.

July 19: DJ Aaron Castle.

Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

July 16, noon: It’s another lunch concert that coincides with the weekly farmers market. Eat produce and enjoy Chris Latzero.

He’s bringing his guitar.

July 17, 8 p.m.: Does the dude look like a lady? Does Aeromyth

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

look like Aerosmith? Answer these questions at the latest installment of the park’s Tribute Thursdays.

July 19, 8 p.m.: Dead Sara and Tonic do the rock thing.

July 20, 5 p.m.: Another Salsa Sunday with Con Ganas. Expect them to come with their ganas.

Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com.

July 15: Rational Anthem.

July 16: Thirteen Colonies and Shegun.

July 17: Thursday Night Booty.

July 18: Ellms, Male Bondage, The Hard R and Virginia Reed.

Juy 19: Sharkmuffin, The Blackerbys, Electric Children and French Girls.

July 20: 40 Hells.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

July 15, 10 p.m.: If The Makers make you happy, they can’t be that bad.

July 16, 10 p.m.: Rick Taub’s Midnight Blues Review returns to share with you the bounty of Mississippi.

July 17, 10 p.m.: Barbara Morrison has the voice of a songbird.

The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org.

July 16: Alyeska, HeartsRevolution and Casinos.

July 18: Puro Instinct, Maria Minerva, After Hours and Nicky Sparkles.

July 20: Cool Ghouls, Santoros, Wyatt Blair and Your Ugly Sister.

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

CROSSWORD

July 14-17, 7 p.m.: The Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival promises a rousing program of movies.

IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D is the sort of ecological study that will make the sober trip out.

Forces of Nature promises a panoply of nature’s worst destruction.

Flight of the Butterflies is visually stunning.

Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare.

July 18, 8 p.m.: Mathew Perry and Bruce Willis collide in theunlikely Mafioso-type comedy The Whole Nine Yards.

Regal Cinemas 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies.

Through July 17: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 3D (12:30, 1, 3:40, 4:30, 7, 7:40, 10:20 and 11 p.m.); Deliver Us From Evil (11:20 a.m., 2:20, 5:10, 8 and 11 p.m.); Earth to Echo (11:30 a.m., 2 and 4:20 p.m.); Tammy (12, 2:30, 5, 7:30 and 10 p.m.); Begin Again (8:10 and 10:40 p.m.); Transformers: Age of Extinction 3D (11:50 a.m. and 7:20 p.m.); Transformers: Age of Extinction (12:50, 3:30, 4:30, 6:40 and 10:30 p.m.); Think Like a Man Too (12:40 and 3:20 p.m.); 22 Jump Street (12:20, 2:50, 5:30, 8:20 and 10:50 p.m.); How to Train Your Dragon 2 (10:50 p.m.); Edge of Tomorrow (4 and 9:50 p.m.); Edge of Tomorrow 3D (1:10 and 7:10 p.m.); Maleficent (1:20, 3:50, 6:30 and 9:10 p.m.).

Street Food Cinema Exposition Park, (323) 254-5068 or streetfoodcinema.com.

July 14, 2014 July 19, 7 p.m.: It’s ’80s mania tonight as a double feature composed of Pretty In Pink and Weird Science threatens to inundate you with nostalgic longing and regret.

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bob Baker’s Fun With Strings Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

July 15-11, 10:30 a.m. and July 12-13, 2:30 p.m.: Whimsy knows no bounds as Bob Baker’s 54th season continues with a journey through a monkey circus, a vast winter landscape and Paris.

Buyer & Cellar Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

July 15-18, 8 p.m., July 19, 2:30 and 8 p.m. and July 20, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Michal Urie of “Ugly Betty” appears in a one-man show about a struggling actor who finds himself employed in the private mall beneath Barbra Streisand’s house in Malibu. Yes, the mall really exists, even if the actor doesn’t. Through August 17.

Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

July 8, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent.

We Will Rock You Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

July 15-18, 8 p.m., July 19, 2 and 8 p.m. and July 20, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Ben Elton directs a musical set to the immortal music of rock band Queen. The show has 24 songs, including “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” Through Aug. 24.

July 14, 2014

Downtown News 17

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

CLASSICAL MUSIC Sunday, July 20 Tenth Annual Concert by Wesley Youth Orchestra Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu.

4 p.m.: An elite group of young Korean musicians from Wesley Music Ministries takes their talents to Downtown.

MUSEUMS Museum of Contemporary Art, Geffen Contemporary 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-1741 or moca.org.

Through July 28: Collage and textile artist Mike Kelley is the subject of this definitive exhibit two years after his passing.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org.

Through August 11: Artist Francesco Vezzoli’s multi-media critique and exploration of the lens and modern celebrity comes into full focus with Cinema Vezzoli.

Ongoing: Installed chronologically, this selection of some of the most significant works from the museum’s permanent collection introduces major art movements of the 20th century, including abstract expressionism and pop art.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

2YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla ©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

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S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

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©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

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Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617

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18 Downtown News

July 14, 2014

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To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448, or go to DowntownNews.com Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm.

FORfor RENT All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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LEGAL leGal notices NOTICE OF COMPLETION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (DEIR) AND NOTICE OF HEARING EXAMINER PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE LA PLAZA CULTURA VILLAGE PROJECT (PROJECT NO. R2014-00619, STATE CLEARINGHOUSE NO. 2014031061, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. RENV201400051).

The County of Los Angeles (County), acting in the capacity of Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the County Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Chapter III, Section 304, has filed a “Notice of

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Completion and Availability” of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the LA Plaza Cultura Village Project (project).

This DEIR has been prepared in accordance with, and pursuant to, CEQA, Public Resources Code Sections 2100021189.3, and the “Guidelines for California Environmental Quality Act” (State CEQA Guidelines), California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Sections 15000-15387.

PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION: The project site is located entirely within the City of Los Angeles and is bounded

by Cesar E. Chavez Avenue on the north, North Hill Street on the west, North Spring Street on the east, and open space/ US-101 northbound ramps on the south. The project consists of a lease agreement between the County of Los Angeles and the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation (Foundation) to permit the development and use of a mixed-use project. The final lease terms would dictate the development parameters and conditions. Draft lease terms have been prepared to outline key requirements. At this time, the Foundation has prepared preliminary plans that will be refined through the final lease terms. The project would establish a mixed-use, transit-oriented infill development totaling approximately 425,000 square feet (sf), including up to 345 residential units (for lease) with 20 percent of the units reserved as affordable units, together with up to 55,000 sf of visitor-serving retail, including, but not limited to, a restaurant, a cafe, other food services, and a “commissary” or shared commercial kitchen space for culinary demonstrations and use by small businesses. The project would also provide up to 786 parking spaces, with 150 spaces having

parking privileges available for replacement of the existing parking used by County employees, federal jurors, and area visitors.

A key project feature outlined in the lease terms is the extension through the project site of the existing Historic Paseo (pedestrian trail) from Union Station to Olvera Street and the already planned extension from Olvera Street to LA Plaza Park, the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, and the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (proposed as part of the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes project). PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: The DEIR is available for public review and comment from July 16, 2014 to August 30, 2014 (45-day review period).

All comments and responses to this notice should be submitted in writing to: Department of Regional Planning (DRP), Attn: Christina Tran, 320 West Temple Street, Room 1362, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or email: ctran@planning.lacounty.gov.

PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing only for taking public testimony on the DEIR and the project has been scheduled before the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning Hearing Examiner starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending after the last testifier or 8:00 p.m., whichever comes first, on August 25, 2014, in the Regional Planning Commission Hearing Room (1st Floor, Room 150), 320 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ANALYZED IN THE DEIR: The following resource areas have been analyzed in the DEIR for potential environmental effects: Aesthetics, Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Energy, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards/Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Population/Housing/ Employment, Public Services,

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CA 90012; Central Library, 630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071; and Echo Park Branch Library, 1410 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Copies of the DEIR will also be available for public review at DRP’s main office Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Please call (213) 974-6461 with any questions. Si necesita más información en español, por favor llame al (213) 974-6466.

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REVIEWING LOCATIONS: The DEIR is available for review on the Department of Regional Planning website at http://planning.lacounty.gov/case/view/ r2014-00619/ and at the following libraries: Chinatown Branch Library, 639 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Little Tokyo Branch Library, 203 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles,

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20 Downtown News

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

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255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

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123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

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On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon

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225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

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July 14, 2014

The Central City Crime Report A Rundown on Downtown Incidents, Trends and Criminal Oddities

By Donna Evans n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.

I

A Rapper, a Gun and a Getaway: A man police identified as Darron Rose, an affiliate of rapper Chief Keef, allegedly pulled a gun on a security guard at a nightclub near Broadway and 11th Street at 2:15 a.m. on July 5, after the guard insisted that the man pay a $2,580 bar tab. Rose, allegedly upset that the crew ran up such a bill, left the bar and drove away in a Mercedes, which got into a traffic accident at Broadway and Olympic Boulevard. Rose and his occupants ditched the car and fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade. Police impounded the Mercedes.

Car Jacked, Car Found: Two men sitting in a car parked at 12th Street and Grand Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on June 30 were told at gunpoint to get out of their car. The men complied, then later used the “Find My Car” app to discover the vehicle in South Los Angeles. Police found the suspects and a replica handgun. They believe the men have been involved in several carjackings in Los Angeles.

Biscuit Heist: A man ordered a biscuit at the KFC at 708 S. Broadway at 8 p.m. on July 1. When the cashier said that would be 86 cents, the suspect attempted to yank away the bag. The cashier wouldn’t let go. The assailant punched the cashier and made off with the biscuit.

Parking Garage Peril: A man walking to his car in a garage at Sixth and Spring streets was attacked by two men. One suspect punched the man and the other took his wallet and cell phone.

The attackers ran off.

Triple Threat: A man driving a 12-passenger van at 7:30 p.m. on July 2 pulled over to the curb, in hopes of dashing into the 7-Eleven at Fifth and Spring streets. He got out of the van, leaving his engine running and keys in the ignition (seriously) and held a work radio as he wandered away from the vehicle. Three men approached him. One, armed with a bottle, tried to steal his radio, while the second man stepped into the van and a third man climbed in the driver’s seat and drove away. Police arrested two suspects.

reynolds, 7 cities is that a simple streetscape project, like a plaza conversion or something built out with temporary materials, has positive impacts on the economic performance of the businesses adjacent to those improvements. Studies from Copenhagen also show that people linger in public when you have great streets, and that leads to more social interaction that strengthens communities.

Q: What other tasks or goals do you have? Is the proposed Downtown streetcar on your mind?

A: I’m excited to get into the cost estimate and the funding plan for the L.A. streetcar. I’m not knowledgeable enough about it to have an opinion at this point. Streetcars do have a very powerful ability to capture the civic imagination and become economic development tools. But it’s important to balance overall transportation needs and have the most efficient funding structure that doesn’t deprive other priorities.

The department has also been working on a long-term strategic plan and I hope to roll something out in my first few months.

That will be a really important roadmap for the public and policy makers in terms of priorities and how each task connects to the policy framework. Much of the plan is coming from the department staff and I have a lot of optimism that it’ll work because of that foundational support. eddie@downtownnews.com